Story

•Can you eat by your own hand if you have a fracture, wound or loss of fingers in your hand?•Can you wash your clothes by yourself, when your little finger is wounded?When you can’t,Think of the Leprosy Affected Person,Doing everything or forced to do everything by themselves with their shapeless hand!Let us extend our hand.....To show our solidarity, concern and kindnessTo give a ray of hope in their remaining life!

Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) has been officially eliminated in India yet more than 100000 people are affected every year. The leprosy-affected people undergo lots of societal hurdles and pains and less privileged to live with their own family. Leprosy destroys the ability to feel pain and injury, which makes patients susceptible to ulcers and infections and lead to the loss of fingers, hands, toes and feet if they are not treated properly. It can also cause blindness, facial disfigurement, and the 'clawing' of hands and feet. We almost ignored that “Leprosy Affected Persons (LAP) too human”.

We the members of Sparrows Nest Trust thought to support the Leprosy care centre in Arakandanallur, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. This Centre was established in the 1950s and had adequate infrastructure facilities from 1970’s. Over the last 35 years, the centre was functioning well and they are able to get free food and medicine from the government. 50 inmates male and female make use of the facilities.

Being a human we find it difficult to wash our clothes, eat our own food, unable to tolerate the heat in the summer. Think of the LAP, they are washing their own cloth, eating their own food with their wounded hand and doing their entire daily needs by themselves in the centre. If they are provided with certain equipment like the washing machine, dishwasher, fans, proper clothing and cheppals, would certainly help them to reduce their labour and have time to relax.

The Arakandanallur Leprosy care centre accommodates nearly 50 inmates and the government allocation is mostly used for medication and food and for the other needs, public-private support is encouraged. The Doctors, Nurse and the support staff also contribute out of concern to buy necessary materials for the inmates, but still, several things need to be taken care. It is in these circumstances, the Sparrows Nest Trust initiates to address some of the immediate need, which will help the LAP to do less manual work and more time to medication and peaceful living.

Immediate Requirements: Two Washing Machines 7KG @ 35000 x 2 = 70000

Dishwasher @ 35000 x 1 = 35000

Fans @ 2000 x 20 = 40000

Installation charges @ 10000 = 10000

proper bed spread, plates, spoons etc @ 1000 x 50 =50000

MCR shoes @ 500 x 50 = 25000

Walking Stick and wheal chair = 25000

Total = 255000/-

Why it is required: •The inmates can wash their clothes on the routine basis so that they can give more time for medication and rest for the fast cure.•All the inmates’ bedspread and other care centre cloths can be washed and dried without several human hours.•The LAP needs free air circulation in order to cure the wounds. Provisions of Fans and other lighting facilities would help them have good air circulation and good visibility.•Cheppals, walking stick and other supporting devices are essential for the LAP.

How can you help: •Donate generously•Choose what you are willing to give•Share our concerns with your friends and well-wishers•Start your campaigns in social media on behalf of us

Role of Sparrows Nest: As a change agent, we are responsible to mobilise resources and make sure that every single rupee received should be used for the cause and accountable to all the donors. Ensure that all the donors will get the updates of the donations received and keep the accounts transparent. Disburse the amount to the specified activities. Monitor the activities.